The 1948 Murray State Thoroughbreds football team represented Murray State University during the 1948 college football season. In their first season under head coach Fred Faurot, the Thoroughbreds compiled a 9–1–1 record, won the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) in their first year of its existence with a 3–1 record against conference opponents, and outscored their opponents by a total of 290 to 87. Murray State was invited to the 1949 Tangerine Bowl, where they tied undefeated Sul Ross.